When considering the evolutionary relationships between animals, it’s essential to look at their classifications and genetic similarities. In this case, we need to compare foxes with rats and foxes with dogs.
Foxes (family Canidae) are more closely related to dogs (also family Canidae) than they are to rats (family Muridae). Both foxes and dogs belong to the same family, Canidae, which means they share a more recent common ancestor. This relationship is apparent in their similar behaviors and traits.
On the other hand, rats, which belong to entirely different families, are more distantly related to both foxes and dogs. Therefore, the pair of animals that is most closely related is:
Foxes and Dogs
This relationship highlights the concept of taxonomy, which groups animals based on shared characteristics and ancestry. In summary, foxes and dogs share a closer bond in the animal family tree than foxes and rats.